Members of an organized criminal group engaged in the trade of human organs and tissues operating in Tashkent city and other regions have been brought to justice in a criminal court. A total of 12 individuals, including 4 women, residing in Tashkent, Fergana, Bukhara, and Kashkadarya regions, formed a criminal group and used social media to identify patients suffering from existing illnesses.
The group recruited healthy individuals to sell their organs with the promise of substantial monetary compensation. They also forged identification documents and coerced the patients into undergoing surgical operations at a private clinic in a neighboring country with the help of their acquaintances.
Criminal activities and adverse consequences
Between 2023 and 2025, the criminal group facilitated kidney and liver transplants for 32 patients. The substantial sums of money acquired during this process were primarily used to cover the expenses of the private clinic operations and to compensate the donors, with the remainder distributed among the members of the group.
The crimes included document forgery, illegal trafficking of organs through smuggling, and violations in healthcare practices. These offenses covered a range of charges consolidated in the court proceedings.
Criminal case and sentencing
The criminal case was heard at the Yakkasaray District Court under the supervision of Judge Azimjon Hakimov. The defendants faced charges under multiple articles of the Criminal Code, including the trade of human organs (Article 133-1), production and forgery of documents and stamps (Article 228), smuggling (Article 246), and offenses related to illegal narcotics (Article 273).
Sentences ranged from 3 years and 1 month to 10 years and 1 month in prison for 8 of the defendants. The remaining individuals received penalties involving restricted freedom and corrective labor.
New developments and warnings
This case underscores the need for serious attention in Uzbekistan regarding healthcare, organ trafficking, and any activities that endanger the lives of healthy citizens. The actions of the convicted individuals must be closely monitored by public and state institutions in the coming years.
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